Exercising device



Feb. 28, 1961 TAYLOR 2,973,203

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1960 INVENTOR,

JOHN R. TAYLOR EXERCISING DEVICE John R. Taylor, 221 E. Carolina Ave.,Memphis, Tenn.

Filed Jan. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 3,915

4 Claims. (Cl. 272-81) This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in exercising devices, particularly those which areutilized in connection with the muscular development of athletes such asfootball players and the like.

More particularly the invention relates to a barrow type device uponwhich is shiftably and removably mounted a weight, and which weight isadapted for forward movement in a forwardly tilted position of thedevice with the provision for rearward shift of the weight in arearwardly tilted position of the device, each of the shifts to variouspositions providing for shift of the weight whereby to accentuate thevertical lifting and/or pushing necessary for the purpose of elevatingthe barrow type device to the respective positions.

It is well and thoroughly recognized in the athletic field that theutilization of means for providing weight to be propelled by an athletewhile running, or even while walking, is highly desirable from amuscular build-up point of view. The present exercising device intendsto provide such a means, and further intends to provide a means whichwill accentuate the utilization of a given weight and will provide forthe use of the device in connection with an obstacle course or the likein which alternating lifting and pushing movements as Well as forwardrunning movements may be utilized.

The principal object of the present inventicnisto provide a new andnovel means for'exercising athletes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising devicewhich is of a barrow type, and upon which a weight is shiftably mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a barrow typeexercising device which may be propelled forwardly in a forwardly tiltedposition upon a forward wheel, in which circumstance the weight isshifted forwardly, and which device may be downwardly shifted by pushingto a rearwardly tilted position in which the weight will shift to therear whereby to accentuate the effect of the weight upon the exercisingdevice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barrow type exercisingdevice in which the weight utilized thereon-comprises a cylinderrollingly shiftable upon the bedof the barrow.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such a device acylindrical weighted member which comprises annular flanges adjacent itsopposite cndsrwhich engage with a guide and retaining frame which isdetachably securedto the bed ofthe barrowjand A further object oftheinvention is generally to improve the design, construction andefiiciency of devices,

for providing exercise for athletes.

.The. means by which the foregoing and other objec ofthe presentinvention are accomplished and the man ner'of their'accdmplishment willbe readily understood Fig. 1 atop plan view of the" device of thepresent invention. V

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the device tom thefollowing specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

' weighted drum 35-.

2,973,203 Fatented Feb. 28, 196i parts are indicated by numerals, thedevice of the present invention comprises a substantially flat bed 11which forrnsthe main body of barrow l3. Adjacent the for ward end of bed31, a front wheel 15 is rotatably supported as by forward supports 1'7.Adjacent the rear of bed 111, an additional rear wheel 19 is turnablysupported as by suitable supports 21.

Rearwardly of rear wheel 19 bed 11 is provided with a pair of rearwardlyprojecting and diverging handles 23, which are preferably integrallyformed with the side members of bed 13 and which rearwardly divergeoutwardly from the dimension of bed 11. It is preferred that handles 23and the perimeter of bed 11 be formed of a tubular member or memberswhich may be inter connected at the front of bed 11, in order to providean integral peripheral and handle structure for bed 11. Intermediate theperipheral structure, bed 11 may be provided with cross bracings 25 asdesired.

Connected with bed 11 at the opposite sides of its peripheral structure,and substantially at the junction of handles 23 with the main part ofbed iii, are a pair of upstanding rear ears 26 which are respectivelydisposed slightly rearwardly of the axial center of rear wheel 19.Forwardly along bed 11, and intermediate front and rear wheels l5, 19,an additional pair of front upstanding ears 27 are provided connected tothe opposite sides of the bed. Front cars 27 are disposed rear-wardly ofthe axial center line of front Wheel 15 and are positioned forwardly ofthe axial center line of rear wheel 19 a' distance somewhat in excess ofhalf of the spacing between the respective axial center lines of frontand rear Wheels 15, 19. It will be observed that the opposite side partsof bed 11 upon which ears 26, 27 are fixed are disposed in substantiallyparallel relationship. I

Detachably connected respectively to ears 26, 27, as

by pins 28, are the front and rear legs 29, 3t? of an up-.

standing substantially inverted U-shaped guide and retaining frame 31.It will be seen upon reference to the the opposite condition may betrue, that is, the frame may be detached from the rear ears 26 and swungupwardly aboutthe pins 28 which connect it with the forward ears 27;

Frame 31"preferably comprises a pair of parallel in verte'dsubstantially U-shaped members each having an upper bight 32interconnecting downwardly extending upright front legs 29 and rear legs3%. 'Mounted shiftably upon bed 11. and within theconfinw of frame 31 isa Drum 35 is preferably cylindrical for rolling shift along bed 11 andis of a diameter substantially less than the fore and aft spacingbetween the substantially upright legs 29, 39 of frame 31, withthediameter of cylinder 35 being substantially bights 32 of frame 31 abovebed 11;

Cylinder 35 adjacent its opposite outwardends is ,7 provided withperipheral flanges 37 which are laterally equal to the spacing of spacedapart a distance slightly in excess of the lateral spacing between theside parts of bed 11 and between the members of U-shaped frame 31. Thusit will be seen that drum 35 is rested upon bed 111 and is shiftablymounted thereupon within the confines of U-shaped frame 31, and thatperipheral flanges 41 on drum'35 engage bed 11 and frames 31 so as toinhibit lateral shifting of the weighted drum cylinder 35. Drum 35 ispreferably further provided with a detachable plug 39 which may heremoved from the drum so as to provide access to the interior thereof toprovide for an alteration in the weight contained within the drum assuitable for the athlete or other person using the present exercisingdevice. Also bights 32, and legs 29, 30 are preferably fixedlyinterconnected by cross members 41.

In the use of the device the weight guide and retaining frame 31 may bedetached at one or the other of its ends from'bed 11, and swung upwardlyso as to receive upon the bed 11 and beneath the frame 31 the Weigheddrum 35. The drum 35 before being positioned upon bed 11 is furnishedwith a desired weight in its interior through the removable plug 39, theplug being replaced thereon. With the drum seated upon bed 11 flanges 41are respectively positioned outwardly and engaging the side members ofbed 11 and when frame 31 is secured in position upon bed 11 the upperextremities of the flanges are outwardly of bights 32 of frame 31. Itwill be observed that frame 31 is of a fore and aft length in excess ofthe diameter of drum 35 in order to provide for the fore and aft shift,preferably a rolling shift, of the drum beneath frame 31 and along bed11.

With drum 35 thus mounted upon the barrow device it is ready forutilization by the athlete who is to take exercise. Preliminarily therear end of the barrow is elevated by lifting upon handles 23 elevatingthe rear wheel above the ground, and the device may then be propelledforwardly by the user. When the rear of the barrow is thus elevated,drum 35 shifts forwardly along bed 11 and within the confinesv of frame31 until it reaches contact with front legs 29, which prevent furtherforward movement of the weighted drum. It will be seen, as best shown inFig. 2, that the weight is thus shifted substantially forwardly and awayfrom the user of the device at the rear end handles. I

In training athletes for football and other competition it is frequentlydesirable for an obstacle course to be utilized and the present barrowdevice may be utilized with an obstacle course; Thus obstacles such -asthe cross tie T may be placed in the prescribed path and in order tocontinue the propelling of the barrow device beyond cross tie T it isnecessary that the front wheel 15 be elevated to clear the height of thecross tie. In

order to do this the athlete under training then pushes substantiallyvertically downwardly upon handles'23 so as to effect an elevation ofthe forward end of barrow l3, raising front wheel 15 above the height ofcross tie T. In initiating this downward pushing movement it will beobserved that with the weighted drum 35 positioned at its forwardposition, as shown in Fig. 2, the maximum exertion is placed upon theuser of the device, requiring the utilization of additional force inorder to effect the elevation of the forward end of the deviceovercoming the forward positioning of the weighted drum. As theelevation is accomplished the drum 35 shifts rearwardly until it comesinto contact with rear legs 30 of frame 31,

this being the position as shown in Fig. 3.

When the cross tie T has been passed by the front wheel 15 of barrow 13it is then necessary for the user to return the front wheel to downwardposition and to elevate rear wheel 19. Again it will be seen that with Ythe device inthe position shown in Fig.g3 the exertion necessary'for theupward pull, to .elevate the rear end handles 23. I

In addition, since wheelslS, 19 are substantially in fore and aftalinement, it is necessary for the user of the device to exert hisefforts to maintain the device on an even balance to prevent sidewaystipping of the same.

When it is desired to increase the load to be imposed upon the athleteunder training, or, as for example, when a different athlete is to usethe device in question, the weighting of drum 35' may be adjusted byremoving the plug 39 and adding to the weight contained in the interior,or if it is desired to adjust it conversely, weight may be removed fromthe interior of the drum.

The flanges 37 on drum 35 successfully engage with frame 31 and bed 11to guide the drum in its fore and aft shifting movement under the usagedescribed just above, and are further effective to prevent any lateralside slip of the drum relative to the bed of the device, eliminating thepossibility of undesired accidents from the use of the device. It willbe seen that here is presented a simple, yet most facile, device foreffecting exercise by an athlete or other person, and one which isefiicient in its accomplishrnent of purpose, as well as being of simpleconstruction.

I claim:

1. In exercising means, a barrow having a substantially flat bedincluding substantially parallel lateral sides, handles connected to therear end of said bed, a front wheel adjacent the front end of said bed,a rear wheel rearward of said front wheel and forward of said handles,said wheels being turnably supported from said bed and alinedsubstantially along the fore and aft axis of said barrow intermediatesaid sides, a weighted drum mounted on said bed and shiftabletherealong, a guide frame comprising a pair of inverted substantiallyU-shaped members respectively overlying and parallel with the lateralsides of said bed detachably connected with said bed and extendingupwardly therefrom, said frame positioned over said drum with said drumin the confines of the frame, said frame including front and rear legsspaced apart in excess of the diameter of said drum to permit and limitshift of said drum along said bed and bights interconnecting said frontand rear legs spaced above said bed a distance substantially equal tothe diameter of said drum, said drum including peripheral flangesextending below the upper surface of said bed and above the lowersurface of said frame, said flanges being disposed outwardly of theopposite sides of said bed and frame and engaging said bed and frameduring drum shift to limit lateral drum movement.

2. In exercising means, a barrow having a substantially flat bedincluding substantially parallel lateral sides,

handles connected to the rear end of said bed, a front wheel adjacentthe front end of said bed, a rear wheel rearward of said front wheel andforward of said handles, said wheels being turnably supported from saidbed and alined substantially along the fore and aft axis of saidbarrowintermediate said sides, a weighted drum mounted on said bed andshiftable therealong, a guide frame com prising a pair of invertedsubstantially U-shaped members respectively overlying and parallel withthe lateral 'sides of said bed detachably connected with said bed andsaid drum along said bed and bights interconnecting said front and rearlegs spaced above said bed adistance substantially equal to the diameterof said drum, said drum including'peripheral flanges extendingbelow theupper surface of said bed and'above the lower surface of said of thedevice from its jpreviously rearwardly tilted position requires the.additional, exertion of force-to lift frame, said flanges engaging saidbed and frame during drum shift to limitlateral drum movement.

3. In exercising means, a barrow having a substantially flat bedincluding substantially parallel lateral sides, handles connected to therear end of said bed, a front wheel adjacent the front end of said bed,a rear wheel rearward of said front wheel and forward of said handles,said wheels being turnably supported from said bed and alinedsubstantially along the fore and aft axis of said barrow intermediatesaid sides, a weighted drum mounted on said bed and shiftabletherealong, a guide frame comprising a pair of inverted substantiallyU-shaped members respectively overlying and parallel with the lateralsides of said bed detachably connected with said bed and extendingupwardly therefrom said frame positioned over said drum with said drumin the confines of the frame, said frame including front and rear legsspaced apart in excess of the diameter of said drum to permit and limitshift of said drum along said bed and bights interconnecting said frontand rear legs spaced above said bed a distance substantially equal tothe diameter of said drum, said drum including means engaging said bedand frame during drum shift to limit lateral drum movement. 20

4. In exercising means, a barrow having a substantially flat bedincluding substantially parallel lateral sides, handles connected to therear end of said bed, a front wheel adjacent the front end of said bed,a rear wheel rearward of said front wheel and forward of said handles,said wheels being turnably supported from said bed and alinedsubstantially along the fore and aft axis of said barrow intermediatesaid sides, a weighted drum mounted on said bed and shiftabletherealong, guide means connected with said bed to guide and limit shiftof said drum along said bed, said drum including means engaging said bedand said guide means during drum shift to limit lateral drum movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,255,128 Bayley Feb. 5, 1918 1,662,730 Wertenberger et a1 Mar. 13, 19282,761,690 Bradley Sept. 4, 1956 2,783,045 Bosch Feb. 26, 1957

